Links die Wiederbegegnung von Lear und Cordelia, rechts die Wiedererkennungsszene mit Lear, Cordelia und dem Herzog von Kent c. 1868 - 1871

This pencil drawing, by Victor Müller, captures scenes from Shakespeare's King Lear. The material itself, humble graphite on paper, speaks to the preliminary nature of the work; it’s a study, rather than a finished piece. You can almost feel Müller's hand moving across the page, quickly sketching out the figures and their emotional interactions. The very act of drawing, with its directness and immediacy, brings us closer to the artist's thought process. The lines, though simple, convey a sense of drama and pathos, highlighting the vulnerability of Lear and the compassion of Cordelia. This medium, and the fast method of production involved, democratizes art, making it accessible and relatable. It strips away the pretension often associated with grand oil paintings, emphasizing instead the raw emotion at the heart of the story. Ultimately, the material simplicity allows the narrative to shine through, reminding us that powerful stories can be told with the most basic of means.